Elite swimmers asked to
make way for beginners
by David Skentelbery
TOP swimmers at Warrington are being asked to give up pool time to make room for youngsters who can?t swim at all.
The borough council is consulting with swimming clubs and elite squads as part of a review of swimming provision in the town to take account of the fact that last year 647 children left junior school unable to swim.
Town Hall chiefs say there is a need to refocus swimming time on children who can’t yet swim.
Coun Roy Smith, the council?s executive member for community services, (pictured)said: “Ensuring that all children have equal access to being able to swim is at the centre of this review.
?We are currently in the early stages of consultation about the proposals and are in discussions about how clubs and squads can still achieve their goals while freeing up some resources to ensure that the wider community are able to master this invaluable life skill.” The council currently delivers a swimming programme to 70 schools with the main aim of making sure that, wherever physically possible, every child leaving primary school can swim 25 metres.
But the number of youngsters leaving without this skill is worrying councillors who have pledged to significantly reduce the numbers and improve the swimming programme to achieve this.
They also want to develop sessions for people with disabilities.
The four priority areas are:
Learn to swim programmes
Public Swimming
School swimming
Swimming clubs/training squads
An extensive swimming programme is currently on offer for parent and baby sessions, swimming lessons for ages five and over, school swimming with the aim of children achieving 25 meters by Year Six, and Swim Link which identifies children from lessons with potential to go through to elite squads.
Building work may disrupt
?8 million bus interchange
by staff reporter
BUILDING work at Warrington?s new multi-million ? bus interchange is expected to cause some disruption over a three day period.
The work will be carried out from Tuesday, October 2 and will affect a number of departure bays.
It is expected the work will be completed in three days, but during this period some buses will be relocated to different bays.
Information about any changes will be on display in the bays and in the travel information office.
The ?8 million interchange ? built as a joint project between Warrington Borough Council, the North West Development Agency, Lend Lease and Warrington Borough Transport ? was opened in July as part of an ongoing improvement of the public transport infrastructure.
It was recently awarded a “Tourism For All” award from the Chester and Cheshire Tourist Board.
Situated only yards from Warrington Central railway station, it offers a fully integrated transport service, and features 19 bus platforms, a new travel centre and real time passenger information boards.
Residents complain
of nuisance youths
by John Hendon
APPLETON Parish Council has asked police to step up patrols around shops in Dudlow Green Road following complaints from neighbours about noisy youths at night.
Three residents of Limeways had complained about gangs of up to 25 youths gathering in the area from 8pm onwards.
There was noise, litter and possible underage drinking and drug use. The access road to the shops was also being used by skateboarders causing danger to themselves and motorists.
The council is also asking the Scouts to increase security at their nearby site and to suggest to the shop owners that “bumps” by installed to deter skateboarding.
A chance to
quiz local police
by staff reporter
RESIDENTS of the Old Hall and Whittle Hall areas of Warrington can quiz their local bobbies at a community action meeting this Saturday (September 29).
The meeting takes place at Bewsey Barns, Old Hall at 1pm ? and those who turn up can talk to their local police and community support officers and discuss any issues of concern while also helping to play a part in deciding the priorities for local officers for the coming weeks.
During the meeting officers will also be giving feedback on what they have done to target issues raised at previous meetings.
Residents will also have the chance to talk to officers and representatives from partner agencies about any issues or concerns in their area.
PCSO Colin Cheshire said: “We would encourage as many people as possible to attend the meeting to discuss any issues of concern.
“We want to target the issues that are really affecting the local community and this is the chance for everyone to come along and have their say.”
The meeting will last for about an hour. There will a police surgery for 30 minutes at the end of the meeting for anyone who wants to discuss individual concerns with officers.
Drama group stages
a famous thriller
by staff reporter
THE Bridgewater Players are to stage “Dial M for Murder” – the play made famous as a result of the Alred Hitchcock film – for their next production.
Staged at Thelwall Parish Hall from November 22-24, the play tells of a couple with relationship problems.
He is a former tennis player, who regrets his decision to settle down. She is a woman of substance who believes she is perhaps a class above him. He arranges for someone to murder his wife so that he can live off her wealth – but things do not go according to plan.
Councillors urged to
look before saying “no”
by staff reporter
PLANNING chiefs at Warrington are to be asked to visit a house where the occupier wants to build a part first floor and part single storey side extension ? to see why the scheme should be allowed to go ahead.
The borough council?s development control committee is being recommended by officers to refuse permission for the extension in Gilderdale Close, Birchwood.
But local councillor Chris Fitzsimmons says the plan should be approved and wants councillors to visit the site before reaching a decision.
Officers say the development would create a ?terracing? effect, in breach of council policy.
But Coun Fitzsimmons disputes this ? and says neighbours support the scheme.
In fact, one neighbour has lodged an objection on the grounds of loss of light to two of his windows and disruption to his own property during the construction process.
Residents complain
over school building
by staff reporter
CONTRACTORS on the Stockton Heath Primary School building project are working at weekends, starting as early as 7.50am, nearby residents have complained.
This causes a noise nuisance, is considered unneighbourly and is in breach of arrangements that residents should be advised in advance of such work, Stockton Heath Parish Council was told.
In addition, parents taking children to school by car are dropping them off near the new main entrance in Egerton Street, despite the double yellow lines, causing a traffic hazard.
The parish council is to raise the issues with the borough council – and has advised residents to do the same.
Apple Day
SUNDAY, October 7 will be “Apple Day” at Grappenhall Heys Walled Garden, near Warrington.
Members of the public are being invited to help harvest apples between 1-4pm. Refreshments will be available and apples will be on sale.
